DURIAN, the King of Fruits, is without doubt a Malaysian favourite.
Apart from eating the flesh of this thorny fruit, locals are known to add the pulp to various drinks and dishes.
As Malaysia is a melting pot of cuisines and flavours, restaurants and cafes have also hopped aboard to add the fruit in a variety of F&B genres.
From the unique to the daring, here are some durian combo meals that have been offered at eateries around the country.
1. Durian Ramen
Menya Shi Shi Do, a Japanese restaurant in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, came up with an out-of-the-ordinary dish.
Their RM40 Durian Ramen came served in a durian shell filled with a creamy broth, ramen noodles, durian paste, soft-boiled egg, thinly sliced meat, durian pulp on top and spring onion garnish.
Durian Ramen created quite a stir when introduced by Menya Shi Shi Do Restaurant in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Introduced on May 17, the dish sparked several reactions on social media.
“I just feel insulted by this ramen,” a Facebook user commented on the restaurant’s post about the dish.
An Instagram user who reposted a video by @singapore.foodie featuring the ramen said, “It’s a must-try for durian lovers and anyone who loves to experiment with new flavours.”
The restaurant, which updates its menu regularly, has replaced the dish since June to embark on its next food adventure – Pizza Ramen.
2. Coconut Durian Pizza
Introduced in 2017, this fusion dish is certainly eye-catching. Mixing durian, coconut and cheese, the Coconut Durian Pizza is a bold item on US Pizza’s seasonal menu.
The pizza’s crust is folded to form spiky edges that resemble the durian shell. A creamy durian paste takes the place of the traditional tomato base, drizzled with honey and topped with cheese.
Coconut Durian Pizza by US Pizza with durian flesh, cheese and coconut flakes and a spiky crust.
Fresh chunks of durian flesh are placed on top and once baked, it is garnished with coconut flakes.
This nine-inch pizza sells for RM32 with D24 durian and RM42 for the Musang King version.
US Pizza business development director Yap Yee Yin said the Coconut Durian Pizza might make a comeback next year when the fruit’s season is in.
“The durian pizza was quite popular and we want to keep this uniqueness of infusing local flavours into American-style pizzas,” she said.
3. Durian Sushi Roll
Sushi fans would know that sushi rolls or maki come with an array of fillings.
At Hanasaka Restaurant at Union Square in Kajang, the Hanasaka Durian Sushi Roll may be the most surprising creation yet.
Seasonal menu at Hanasaka Restaurant offering Durian Sushi Roll.
Introduced in May 2023 just as the durian season kicked in, a waiter at the restaurant said the filling was a mixture of cucumber and durian-infused cream cheese, while the outside of the roll is made out of a soft and creamy durian layer.
The bright yellow roll is cut into six pieces and topped with shreds of durian flesh and fish roe, and offered for RM17.90.
4. Durian Tau Fu Fah
Tau fu fah is a mild-tasting dessert but Durian Tau Fu Fah is the exact opposite.
In April this year, Bean Jr released Durian Tau Fu Fah in two varieties – D24 and Musang King.
Durian Tau Fu Fah served at Bean Jr has the D24 and Musang King varieties.
The D24 version, priced at RM23.80, features layers of tau fu fah, cendol, red bean and durian.The Musang King version costs RM2 more and is served with shaved ice, tau fu fah, sago, peach gum jelly, mini taro balls and Musang King durian topped with gold flakes.
“This combination delivers a tantalising flavour profile – the result being a delightful interplay of sweet, fruity and nutty taste from the durian, contrasted with the delicate tau fu fah,” said Bean Jr co-founder Evvon Chua.
“The richness and creaminess of the durian meld seamlessly with the tau fu fa,” she added.
Bean Jr is selling this dessert at 12 of its outlets including Sri Petaling, Kota Kemuning and USJ Taipan.
5. Avocado Durian Smoothie
Urban Juicer in MyTown shopping centre in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, offers two distinct fruits in its Avocado Durian smoothie offered since the outlet’s opening in December 2018.
Senior barista Victor Chin said this popular thirst-quencher was a blend of Australian Hass avocado, frozen D24 durian, low-fat milk and raw honey.
Superfood meets the king of fruit in Urban Juicer’s Avocado Durian Smoothie.
“We get the durians from Raub, Pahang, and blast-freeze them so that they remain fresh,” he revealed.
He said the durian taste was fairly mild as the avocado helped to balance it out.
“It is creamy, flavourful and the durian aftertaste and smell definitely lingers, but Malaysians have been eating durian, so why not try to drink it instead!
“Especially since it is mixed with the avocado superfood, it is more nutritious.”
The drink costs RM14.80 for a medium (12oz) and RM19.80 for a large (20oz).
6. Durian Cendol
Some cendol vendors include durian in this shaved ice dessert as a matter of course these days, and priced at a premium depending on the type of durian used.
In Lorong Raja Bot, Kuala Lumpur, Mamam Place sells durian cendol for up to RM18 per bowl.
Durian cendol served at Mamam Place in Kuala Lumpur.
The stall that has been operating since 2020 serves a classic bowl of cendol with durian flesh pressed into a bed of shaved ice topped with creamed corn.
Employee Zulaikha Zaireen Abdul Aziz said Mamam Place used a mix of D24 durian and durian kampung for their cendol.
They also offer durian cendol pulut, where you can choose to add a heaping scoop of bright-green glutinous rice on top for an extra RM1.50.
“It is mouthwatering and the flavours work well together,” said Zulaikha.
7. Chocolate Durian Cake
Bijan Bar and Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur sells Chocolate Durian Cake priced at RM40.60 per slice and RM255.20 per cake.
In this dessert, flesh of a D24 durian is whipped into a cream and sandwiched between two moist layers of chocolate cake.
Chocolate Durian Cake marries sweet and bitter at Bijan Restaurant and Bar, Kuala Lumpur.
A velvety chocolate ganache is then poured over the cake, followed by a dusting of cocoa powder.
The chocolate cake was sweet and moist, and paired well with the creamy and bitter aftertaste of the durian, according to Bijan’s senior marketing manager Selena Mak.
“The combination gives it the right balance of rich and creamy chocolaty taste.”
Mak said the cake was inspired by a chocolate-covered durian cake that the restaurant partners saw at Bangkok Airport in 2005.
“After many trials, they have perfected the cake and it is a huge hit with Bijan’s patrons.”
8. Teh Tarik Durian
The popular Cameron Highlands tea company Cameron Valley has been around since 1933.
Having been passed down four generations, you would guess that they know a thing or two about tea.
Among the tea flavours that stand out at Cameron Valley Tea House is Durian Tea.
Sold as tea bags at their shop outlets and online store, one box of durian tea with 25 sachets is sold for RM13.50.
At their tea house in Cameron Highlands, which sits facing the serene plantation, these tea bags are used to brew hot cups of Durian Teh Tarik Kaw Kaw style that go for RM8.50 a pop.
9. Durian Smoothie
Just like most fruits, durians can be blended into smoothies.
Hey! I Am Yogost in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, is said to offer the first-ever durian yogurt drink, according to Yogost operations member Cassandra Phang.
The Durian Delight Smoothie by Hey! I Am Yogost which has yogurt and D24 durian blended together.
She said the Durian Delight Smoothie was made of thick yogurt blended with fresh D24 durian flesh.
The drink is tangy, which is typical of yogurt-based drinks, but the familiar taste of durian comes through in this light and creamy smoothie.
The unique beverage has been on the shop’s menu since 2019, according to Phang, and is priced at RM18.90 at its outlets across Malaysia.
10. Roti canai durian
This durian-infused breakfast staple may have just saved retaurateur Mohd Faizul Rohban from going out of business following the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an interview with Utusan Malaysia, Faizul said he was inspired by a friend who made murtabak durian, to try a roti canai version.
Roti Canai Durian is offered at a few restaurants in the Klang Valley and also available at Roti Tempayan Pasir Pekan in Kelantan. — Filepic
He sells this premium flatbread at RM8 per piece at his shop, Roti Tempayan Pasir Pekan in Kampung Baharu, Kelantan, which he has been managing for 15 years.
A durian paste sourced from Tangkak, Johor, is folded into the crispy flatbread and grilled up to form a sweet and flaky dish.
The roti canai durian was so popular, Faizul said, that he enjoyed some repeat orders.
